Middle Earth FA65 D&D Game: Tenth Adventure – On to the Quest

Gil-Gandel focusses all his power on the task in hand, aware that the Children of Iluvatar are frail vessels indeed to bear the might so artlessly wielded by Iarwain ben-Adar. He strums the Starharp into life and begins a song that at first seems to freeze his listeners almost to the marrow before rising triumphantly into a glad paean of supernatural majesty. Not all of the song is even intelligible to mortal ears, but those nearby seem to hear words on this wise:

Chill of the endless night, pride of the Barrow-Wight,
Hateful resentment for countless years nurséd;
Blackness of nether hells, venom of Morgul-spells,
Warding the proud dead in dread tomb accurséd:
Flee now, for days dawns, bright as the First of Morns
Blazing in radiance of Anor in splendour,
Ringing with Ainu-song chorussed through ages long,
Joyfully the praises of Eru to render!

The door seems to shudder, a piercing shriek is heard from the other side and the door melts away. This reveals a large octagon shaped chamber. On the far wall is an ornate throne glowing faintly green. Sitting on the throne is a Kingly looking Wight. He is holding a golden rod in his left hand and a wicked looking long curved knife in his right. The evil from him is palpable. It makes Deor feel physically sick to his stomach and Drinoleth knows this is a foulness the likes of which he has never felt. Gil-Gandel would suspect this may be the chief Wight of the Barrow Downs and surely he is quite powerful. He is but 40' away. All the swords that glow in the presence of undead are glowing strongly.

Deor will toss off a Fireball if he can before the wight closes with the party, and will try to hit it with a blast from his wand otherwise.

Ceol steels himself, and cries out, "By Eonwë and all the gods, we have come to send you to your eternal rest!"

He will wait a moment for the first rank to move through the doorway, before moving up and to the right, to stand beside Bitur. As he does, he chants a prayer to Eonwë.

Thoroncir, moved by Gil-Gandel's song, shakes off the evil of this place. He says just loudly enough for those he is addressing to hear, "Ceol, Cwenhild and Wilfred - shall we spread out, but attack as one?"

If the liquid light from earlier has run out, Bitur will add another dose to his axe.

Then shield at the ready, he will wait to strike the wight until it approaches melee range, not wanting to block any of the range attacks any earlier than necessary.

Mulligan hears the cry and moves further down the corridor lying in wait to make sure nothing can creep up on the group and the fight they are about to undertake.

Rorimac steps forward into the room and sets Belethil to blaze brightly. "Time to shine a light in the darkest areas and leave evil no place to hide."

Both swords are drawn and he faces off against the Wight King in front. He wonders if his father was feeling the same nerves when he encountered the Witch King on Pelennor Fields, before concentrating hard on the enemy in front.

Ceol gives Thoroncir a quick nod of agreement, as he continues to chant in prayer. He signals to Wilfrid to accompany him when he goes to the right flank, and sends Cwenhild with Thoroncir to the left flank.

Thoroncir, sword drawn and shield at the ready, steps forward, pacing his approach to the wight with that of the other three warriors.

Gil-Gandel also draws both swords, ready to see how the initial engagement seems to be going - if the Wight King is not quickly dispatched by the swordsmen quickly closing on him then he will cast Mirror Image and flame his swords before taking over from anyone who needs relief. Meanwhile he continues to repeat the words above in the Westron tongue to give heart to the fighters.

Flee now, for days dawns, bright as the First of Morns
Blazing in radiance of Anor in splendour,
Ringing with Ainu-song chorussed through ages long,
Joyfully the praises of Eru to render!

Deor’s Fireball blasts the room and sets off much steam but appeared to wrap around a small globe of magic without doing any harm to the wight.

Ceol and Wilfrid head to the right as Thoroncir and Cwenhild head left. Just a little behind them comes Bitur with his axe glowing again. Rorimac glowing moves straight ahead but is keeping low of course.

As the party moves in on him, he barks out a Word of Power and Gilraen goes down instantly.


Mulligan hears sounds from below but knows there is a little time at least. She signals Drindoleth who turns in a giant bear taking up the entire passage with liquid light applied to his claws. He is ready to guard the party.

If that wight can shrug off a Fireball, there may not be a lot else that Deor can do to stop it. He kneels and begin tending to Gilraen immediately.

Thoroncir's resolve flags as he sees his true love fall, and for an instant he considers turning to aid her before he realizes that the wight must be defeated at once, or they might all become its prey. Victory or death, he thinks. He steels his heart and moves forward. Raising his sword he cries, "Elendil!"

Ceol spares a moment's glance back towards the fallen princess, then presses forward, his swords raised. "For Eonwë! For Rohan!"

If the Wight-King can speak Words of Power then it is likely that even a Wall of Fire from Deor would have no effect on him (and would somewhat incommode our own fighters, although Gil-Gandel and Drindoleth could endure it for some time). Gil-Gandel looses off the mithril arrow found in the earlier Barrow, and after it enough of his best arrows to make up one full round's worth, over the head of Rorimac, then follows the brave hobbit, and continues to chant, in the full confidence that no magic he knows would even affect the dread lord.

Good news in that at least the arrows fly true. The Mithril Arrow strikes the wight through its chest and he wails in pain. It does 17.

Thoroncir fights off an urge to flee in fear as Kálthalion glows warmly at his side. As he reaches 10' from the wight, he feels a barrier of cold so fierce. It is -85° and cold enough for exposed skin to start freezing immediately. Thoroncir is fortunate in his Cloak of the Seals, heirloom of his family. He barely feels the cold though he is well aware of it. He strikes hard with Arcirist doing 36 points of damage. His shield does no damage though.

Cwenhild comes in slower with the bitter cold affecting her. She strikes with her swords but missing twice, this foe is tough. She starts shivering immediately. Wilfrid follows suit but manages to hit with his silver bastard sword. He does 17.

Ceol also feels the cold harshly and knows this battle better be quick or the unprotected will be in great trouble. He misses with his long sword but strikes true with his short. This is a blade enchanted against the living dead and he does 32.

Rorimac comes straight through wearing his Elven cloak he feels the cold less then the 3 paladins but more then Thoroncir. Belethil seems to offer some protection to that hand at least as it glows brightly. He strikes with 2 swords and both hit. This does 16.

Finally comes Bitur blazing in with glowing axe and fiery helm. He chops with his great axe and appears to chop through the wight splitting him asunder and shattering his brittle bones!

Deor is quickly reassured, he sees Gilraen is either stunned or in shock but still breathing.

Mulligan sees a dim sickly green glow coming up the stairs. Drinoleth growls out, "A little help when available. Deor your spells may work against these."

Gil-Gandel spins abruptly and turns to confront the new foe, bow at the ready but prepared to switch to swords if it looks like Drindoleth needs hand-to-hand assistance.

Thoroncir quickly ensures that the wight is bashed into oblivion, and then turns to see how Gilraen is doing.

Ceol joins Thoroncir in ensuring that the wight is truly felled, before turning his attention back to the stairs.

"May you finally rest in peace." Bitur says to the wight when he realizes he's dispatched it.

He then turns to face whatever is coming up the stairs.

Having seen the Wight felled, Rorimac heads outside to face the oncoming foe.

Mulligan is waiting further down to catch first glimpse of whatever is coming.

Drindoleth and Mulligan see a line of wights coming up the sloping passage 3 wide. They all have eerily glowing swords and a variety of ghostly looking equipment. The dread from these though is far less than the dread from the just dispatched Wight King.

Drindoleth takes up most of the passage but Rorimac and Mulligan could work from one side and Bitur the other for now. Gil-Gandel will probably need to try to take pot-shots with his bow again.

Thoroncir finds Gilraen looks pale but is breathing. She feels cold to his touch though.

Deor will leave Gilraen to Thoroncir's capable hands and move back to help confront the wights. A blast from his wand, followed by a quick retreat behind Drindoleth might be the best plan.

With the passage apparently well-plugged with combatants, Ceol will say a moment's prayer over the fallen King, then move to Gilraen's side. He sees the concern in Thoroncir's face.

"I am by no means the princess's equal in healing, my friend. Even so, I do have some small gift, through Eonwë's grace. Let me see if I can help her."

An Elven archer does not take "pot shots", but he does loose off as opportunity permits without risk to allies. :)

I also have some small skill as a healer; call me if I am needed.

Once the line of wights is within reasonable range to get most if not all of them, Bitur will release a blast from his borrowed helm.

"Yes, please, Ceol," says Thoroncir, his voice strained. "Do whatever you can, and may the Valar bless your efforts. If it would be best to remove her from here, I will do so, if my companions can do without my help against whatever foes remain in this hateful place."

Ceol sees that Gilraen should be alright after the effects wear off. But also sees that Thoroncir is correct that getting her out of the cold damp barrow and into the sunshine would be best.

Thoroncir can easily carry the petite Princess and the passage back up is smooth. It should help that there is a Ranger of the North waiting above and they are known for their herbal remedies. As he carries her up, he is again amazed with her delicate, elfin beauty.

So a front line forms of with 3 wights closing and 3 more only 6’ back.

Wilfrid ____
______ Deor Cwen Gil-Gandel
Bitur BEAR Rori ^Mull
Wight Wight Wight
__Wight Wight Wight


_____Wight Wight Wight

Bitur's blast of light from Rilthol does 21 to the first 6 barrow wights. Drindoleth shreds the center wight with his glowing claws and then rakes the next one. Both dissipate from the ferocious attack.

Rorimac's blade both rend the nearest wight. He clearly injures it but it is ready to strike when a +3 arrow goes through it, causing it to lose cohesion.

Bitur blocks the blow from the nearest wight with his shield and his massive axe glowing with liquid light, the gift of Linwen, chops his foe apart. The wight shudders before coming apart and its sword makes a particularly loud clang on the floor.

Deor never saw an opening for his wand.

Wilfrid ____
______ Deor Cwen Gil-Gandel
Bitur BEAR Rori ^Mull
Wight Wight Wight
__Wight Wight Wight


_____Wight Wight Wight

With Gilraen now safe, and the doorway well-clogged with our combatants, Ceol takes out his bow, and looks for an opportunity to take a shot. (As he is *not* a skilled Elven archer, these could, indeed, be called "pot shots".)

Seeing that his stalwart companions have the situation well in hand, Thoroncir carries his beloved up and out of the barrow and into the sunlight.

It is well that the path is smooth, for he might otherwise misstep and stumble. He finds that he can only with difficulty look away from Gilraen, in his arms and so tantalizingly close - her ripe lips, her dark silken hair, the gentle curve of her hips, the swell of her breasts, the grace of her limbs. Her beauty thrills and intoxicates him, but her silence now reminds him how much his attraction to her stems not just from her beauty but from her strong will, lively intellect and well-chosen speech.

He loves the fair princess now more than ever before, and yet not as much as he knows he will tomorrow. It is for her that he strives always for chivalric honor; it is in her that all his future hopes and dreams have their focus. What would I have done if she had died? he wonders, agonized. How could I bear her loss, if it should ever come to that? He forces such thoughts from his mind, knowing that no good can come of them, and carefully lays her on the grass, ready for Haladain the Ranger's ministrations.

Mulligan will just keep backing up Rorimac who will be keeping his side of the corridor blocked.

Once the Sea-knight captain is assured that Gilraen is being well cared-for, he will reenter the barrow and rejoin his companions in facing and destroying the wights.

Glad to hear the lovesick loon returning to the fray, Gil-Gandel continues to provide both missile and moral support to the fighters.

Deor dashes up the stairs, wand at the ready, prepared to cast a jet of flames or a Fireball if he sees a good opening for either.

Deor tosses a Fireball behind the back visible row and destroys the bodily form of 7 of the wights.

The remaining 2 wights are very swiftly dispatched. No one is even sure who struck the killing blows in the front. The swords that glow in the presence of undead all go dim but are still glowing faintly.

"I'll start checking further down and see if there is anything else we need to be aware of" says Mulligan. "Someone might want to check out that main throne room and see if what we are looking for is in there."

"Good idea, Mulligan." Suspecting that the item we seek will have an evil aura, Ceol will attempt to locate it using his ability to Detect Evil.

The main barrow or throne room contains much that detects as evil including 2 of the 4 chests and objects scattered about the room. However, still grasped in his cold dead hand is a Golden Rod of pure evil. Stronger by far and ancient in appearance.

Mulligan quietly descends and the ramp continues to circle down. The are 4 small chambers that are as old as the rest of the barrow and empty of wights and then it descends into more recent diggings. Bitur following behind suspects they were dug by magic and not craft. 9 more chambers are in this lower section bring to 13 total the lower chambers. Each appear to have a variety of items within. The passage itself just ends smoothly 10' beyond the final chambers' doorway.

Gil-Gandel entering into the main chamber notes the Wight King wore exceptional Mithril Chain mail, probably +5 quality. A helm of mithril which is of ancient Númenórean make and probably +3 quality. He has finely wrought silver bracers on his arms and apparently Dwarven made. The Gold Rod is unknown to Gil-Gandel's lore but his knife appears to be crafted of Angmar and notoriously sharp and deadly with the ability to poison its victims. Probably +5 quality.

Mulligan will quickly check each room for traps and magic to make sure they are safe. Each of the rooms will need to items removed and dissipated into the light outside. After that it will be head back and let the others know what has been found. It may just be a case of grab what we need and run, given the time though.

"Let's get these evil relics up into the sunlight before there's no sunlight left in the day."

Agreed. When you have a Wizard with you, it is well to listen to him.

Ceol and Thoroncir will work with Cwenhild and Wilfrid in bringing the items up out of the barrow, and into the sunlight. Ceol will volunteer to bear the wight king's golden rod out, taking great care in how he carries it, and chanting prayers as he does.

How does Ceol handle the rod? It is very evil feeling.

Unless Gil-Gandel or Deor have any more-informed suggestions, Ceol will use his sword to slide the rod into a sack or other container, then carry the container out using the sword (along with his short sword, if a second "hand" is needed). He will keep his gauntlets on the entire time, being certain to not let the rod touch his skin.

Sounds careful enough. We'll want to spread the sack and your sword out in the sun too, although I'm sure any transferred contamination would be slight.

"I've got a better idea", says Rorimac. "I'll loop a small piece of rope around the rod and around your sword. The loops will tighten when you lift your sword up. Then you can carry it out dangling in front of you like a very disturbing carrot, or perhaps an unusual fishing lure for wraiths."

"The most important thing is that no one touch it with bare skin. The next most important is that we get it out in the sun quickly. Everything else is of only minor importance."

Despite the seriousness of the moment, and the situation, Ceol cannot help but laugh as Rorimac describes his solution. "So very well put, Master Brandybuck. If you are willing to rig the rope, I shall take it from there."

He nods to Deor. "Very sound advice, cousin, on both counts. Let us do this immediately."

The Rod is carefully removed and chamber by chamber the barrow is emptied into the sunlight. It is closing in on 7pm now though. (August 24th, FA65) sunset is less then an hour away. Gilraen has recovered at this point.

The treasure is vast.
Main chamber had 4 large chests. The 4th weighs nearly 150 pounds.
1) The Queen's chamber has Woven Númenórean gold belt: Set with gems worth 500 gp; Jeweled comb; Elven Cloak; Elven Boots; Ring Bright with diamonds.
2) The Chamber of the younger Princess:
Emerald Pendant; Jeweled comb; Elven Cloak; Elven Boots
3) The King’s Champion: Chain Mail, Helm, War Shield (Dwarven); Long Sword
4) The Queen’s Ladies: 3 were laid here. Needle of stitching; Medallion; Ring
5) Knife & 139 silver coins
6) shield & 139 silver coins
7) Long Sword & Short & 139 silver coins
8) Mace & 139 silver coins
9) Shield & Knife & 139 silver coins
10) Large Backpack no encumbrance & resists magic & 139 silver coins
11) Gauntlets & 139 silver coins
12) Scabbard & 139 silver coins
13) Boot & 139 silver coins

Thoroncir is delighted to see Gilraen recovered. He says of the treasure, "This looks like too much to carry away now, especially while the taint of ancient and deeply-settled evil still lingers. Shall we set up camp here and keep watch over the trove tonight, or leave it, establish camp a safe distance away, and return on the morrow?"

He also wonders about the oddly-recurring number of coins. "Tell me, Deor, does the number 139 have some magical or historical significance?"